Some years ago, not that long after the war, I spent two and a half weeks in Dubrovnik on business, and loved the city. I have vowed to return sometime on vacation.

It was quite amazing to see how well the place had recovered from the significant damage that was suffered from the incessant bombardment that had been endured, and it almost seemed that it hadn't happened, so well had the repairs been effected.

While you are there, do take the opportunity to visit some of the surrounding islands which are really lovely, and also go a few miles up the road to Cavtat and have lunch on the pretty little port there.

Montenegro is also well worth a visit. It appeared to me to be a 'different world' and was in almost a 'time warp, but things may have changed by now, as I was there about 20 years ago.

I spent 10 days in Croatia in 2004 and loved it. I was only in and around the south and vowed to return. Of the islands, I really loved Brac and stayed there for 4 days. It is a very pretty and quieter island, and the small town of Bol, nestled under or beneath the towering cliffs has all the amenities for a peaceful and comfortable stay and hours of beach relaxation; the island is less touristy than Hvar, which is also pretty but bigger. You can take day trips from Brac to Hvar and other islands by local ferries (very reliable and safe). I should mention that I found more travel connections (ferry departures, times, boat lines etc.) when I was actually there than I did when pre-planning on the internet which made the planning difficult, but then easier when I got there. Theres lots of good local 'transit' which you wont know about until you get there.
I also loved Trogir and of course Dubrovnik.

I hope Plavi sees your thread; he just introduced himself on his own thread as a resident expert on Croatia and invited requests for information. You should post on his thread and ask for his advice.

<< Pula - one night. Take boat/ferry south visiting islands (Krk, Brac, Hvar, Vis, Mljet) >>

You could spend a week doing this. And you're not even going to Korcula, my favorite. Fortunately you're going in high season when the ferries are at their most frequent.

You're definitely going to have to cut some destinations. Make up your mind you can't see everything in 2 weeks. I'd skip Pula; it's an outlier (and not a favorite of mine). Krka's hard to get to, and it's not a UNESCO World Heritage Site like Plitvice. So maybe skip it.

We didn't go to Zagreb. Our focus was on the coast, small towns, and natural beauty. But we definitely recommend Plitvice. And we stayed in Trogir, only spent a half-day in Split, touring the palace. But we had a car whereas Split makes a good public transportation base.

Glad to hear you're planning some beach time. Part of Croatia's charm is slowing down and simplifying life. If you insist on seeing everything, you'll miss that part of the experience.

I was in Croatia and Montenegro last year and loved it.

I think I would skip Zagreb and add in Korcula and Rovinj, or just add them in. With Rovinj I think you could see it in half a day. I might devote a day to Korcula; it was very charming. I had a delicious pizza at Pizzeria Tedeschi on the seaside promenade. In addition to Dubrovnik and Split, they were my favorites.

I didn't spend long in Split. I thought half a day was enough to see everything since the area of and around Diocletian's Palace is pretty compact. Krka was nice, but the walk, even though shaded, was extremely hot, even in September.

If you are in Pula, make sure to visit the Roman Arena. It is like a mini-Colosseum and very well preserved. That being said, I would skip Pula, if necessary, to visit Korcula and Rovinj.

On our first trip to Croatia we spent one night in Zagreb and four days in Istria. We aren't really "water" people, but we fell in love with the Istrian coast. In my opinion both deserved more time.
We recently returned from a long weekend in Zagreb and didn't get to do everything we wanted. I think Zagreb deserves at least two nights.
I would also spend some time walking along the rocky coast in/around Opatija, but I would not plan an overnight.

Thank you for all your advice. After looking at our itenerary we have decided to drop Zagreb and Pula. We'll go there the next time

Our new itenerary looks like this:

Split - 4 days (including travel day, and trips to some of the islands)
Beach vacation 5 days (don't know where, but maybe one of the islands? suggestions please
Plitvice - 2 days
Dubrovnik 4 days including a day trip to Montenegro

We think we should drop Krka, what do you think?
The reason we are spending 2 days in plitvice is because of the long travel. We just need one day there, so if there is a place nearby we should visit, please tell us!
Which of the islands is good for just a quick visit, and which should we visit for a day (or more)?

I'm visiting Croatia for the first time with my wife next month. What customs or formalities should we know when visiting to make a good impression with the locals. We will mostly be in Istria and parts of Slovenia.

Sorry wrong thread.

Fantasi, I like your new itinerary. Much more spacious.

How are you getting from Split to Plitvice? Bus? And then how are you getting from Plitvice to Dubrovnik? You might intersperse your beach/relaxation time between Plitvice and Dubrovnik.

Mimar: Thank you!

We were thinking about bus from Split to Plitvice. Not such a bad idea to take the beachtime in between Plitvice and Dubrovnik!

Which of the islands are best for a relaxing (quiet) vacation?

In between Split and Dubrovnik are the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, and Mljet. You could combine island-visiting with beachtime en route to Dubrovnik. The Jadrolinija ferries visit all these islands as well as Makarska on the mainland. But you have to work out the details. Here's the website: www.jadrolinija.hr/default.aspx?lang=2. There are also catamarans between islands.

We took the Jadrolinija boat, which stopped at Mljet en route to Korcula, where we spent 2 or 3 nights. And then a catamaran from Korcula, stopping at Hvar, then into Split.

And there's a bus from Korcula into Dubrovnik.

I don't know which would have the best beaches and what kind of beach resort you would want. Just a great stretch of sand? Or something with more amenities and activities?

Hi, I'm writing a series of posts on my Croatian itinerary at the moment that might be helpful. Next to be published in a couple of hours. www.aussieinfrance.com. Photos of Plitvice as well. A visit to Mostar on your way from Split to Dubrovnik might be worth considering.

Planning for a week in Montenegro region myself in June / July>>> Other than the obvious (beaches & islands & Mostar & the old towns) what are recommendations for a) mountain / nature hiking trails, b) kayak & white water rafting, and c) recommended itinerary with a focus on train travel??